After having worked our creative arses off and vending our crafts during the Holiday season it was time to take a brea;, so that’s what we did leaving our beloved Maputo and cherished husbands behind. on our way to Swaziland and a visit to the amazing House of Fire, craft markets and stopping at any place that looked interesting….

We had such a great time that I want to share it with Dabanga Jewelry, Maos de Africa, Saraba and Astrid Sugler fans and friends…..Enjoy and check out our pages on FB

Luisa Ramson Jafar of Maos de Africa is travel ready as well as Ruth Banon, of Saraba eu Dabanga of Dabanga Jewelry and Astrid Sugler .

On our way, enjoying the eye candy landscape, and Ms. MOO MOO of course. We arrived in the middle of African traffic, no explanation needed for that I’m sure LOL

Close up of that booty shot lol

Here in Mozambique we are used to highly seasoned food, in Swaziland not so much, but hey change is good : )

HEY! It’s my BIRTHDAY : ) Yes I was born on International Women’s Day and I am giving away 12 gifts! you could be a WINNER …. Leave a comment on my blog with the month you’d like to receive your free gift it may be a necklace pair of earrings , a candle who knows : ) then go and like go like my www.Facebook.com/Dabangalicious with the month you would like to receive your gift .There will be 12 winners! Good luck ! winners will be contacted on March 15, 2012

The CAPULANA is a cotton cloth of brilliant colours and diverse African designs or patterns and can be found wrapped around the hips of a Mozambican women from the far north to the southern part of Mozambique in the village as well as the city… and this can be said for any other country in Africa just by changing the name given this multi tasking cloth

Traditionally women, would not leave home without one, the CAPULANA has such a large role to play in the day to day life; the CAPULANA will protect one from the sun, wind, and rain, carry babies so that the hands are free to perform other tasks, carry food or other articles, used to sit on, etc.; in these modern times seemingly only the 30+ age group and younger people in the villages continue to carry out this tradition carry out this tradition.

Protection from the sun

Carry the baby, so our hands will be free to multi task.

Werking that CAPULANA

Swaddle the baby

The CAPULANA has evolved into the modern world of men and women’s fashion accessories, home furnishings and even a graduation gown ; yes the CAPULANA or its namesake in other African countries has become global right now it is “in fashion” and as such many fund raising projects to help women in rural communities have been sponsored by charitable or other organizations whereas the women make fashion accessories out of CAPULANA to be sold and raise money for a community project. CAPULANA or its namesake African fabric, African inspired fabric, Ankara, Vlisco has now outlived the trend and become a permanent fixture in the global marketplace now available worldwide so now u too can be fashion forward in all facets of your life : )

The

Let’s hear it for the guys !

Vlisco brings on the heat with African inspired CAPULANA

Rain, rain go away I don’t want my umbrella to get wet

I only need 4 more to have one for every day of the week : )

DABANGAjewelry necklace made from African inspired fabric

African fabric earrings Dabangajewelry

CAPULANA is the inspiration for this graduation ceremonial gown by www.Facebook.com Iris Santos Design for the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique

CAPULANA takes to the water thanks to Stella Jean having designed this CAPULANA bathing costume

Luisa Jafar Ramson Jafar introduces CAPULANA to Denim her home accessory line

CAPULANA throw pillows

Recycling projects get in on the CAPULANA whirlwind with these drawer pulls made from bottle caps and CAPULANA fabric scraps

Dolls dressed in CAPULANA, while seemingly just play things weillseerve to show fhe younger ones that Africas evolving CAPULANA started like this : )

Mozambique will play host to a Festival in homage of the CAPULANA in celebration of Mozambican women’s day this in April of this year, which inspired me to write this blog. http://Facebook.com/Festival de Capulana

I have used the images of unknown photographers and I thank them and welcome them to identify their work so they get the well deserved credit.: ) a lot of the pics are water marked so I’m off the hook with that but I’m just as grateful for having been able to share those images as well.

I use the word CAPULANA (native to Mozambique) as a metaphor for all African, African inspired fabric of the same general use.